Cancer victim ill after marathon finish

Terminal cancer sufferer Jane Tomlinson was today "extremely unwell and distressed" after running the London marathon in just under seven hours, her husband said.

The 40-year-old mother-of-three from Rothwell, Leeds, was recovering at home after going over the finishing line of the 26-mile event in tears.

"The day before the marathon she started getting flu-like symptoms," her husband Mike, 43, said.

"The cold weather made the situation worse and her left leg, where there is an active cancer site, began to cramp up causing her pain in her knee, hip and through her back. She dosed herself up on painkillers but began to experience a lot of pain at only eight miles in."

Mrs Tomlinson, who was running the marathon for the third time, refused to give up despite the pain and continued to the end, finishing in six hours 56 minutes.

She even continued when her three children Suzanne, 19, Rebecca, 16, and Steven, six, pleaded with their mother to stop.

"When she finished she was a real state, she was very very unwell and very distressed," Mr Tomlinson added. "When I saw her come through the finishing line she was really upset and it made me cry. It was quite upsetting for me to see her like that.

"I don't think I've ever seen anyone in as much pain as when she came through that finishing line.

"She just won't give up. She'd rather go through the pain than quit.

"I don't know what makes her do that but I am really proud of her."

Hoping to take on cycle ride

However despite her illness and yesterday's tough marathon run, Mr Tomlinson said his wife still intended to go ahead with her planned cycle ride from Rome to Leeds.

"I think she's hoping that the bike ride won't be like that because the weather will be much better. It was just so cold and it had a knock-on effect when she was already feeling ill. Her normal painkillers just didn't work and so she was in so much pain.

"It means a lot to her to finish an event even though she didn't do it very well. There's a big difference to Jane between finishing an event and quitting. In her condition she just doesn't want to quit."

She has completed two marathons, a triathlon, a half-ironman triathlon and a 1,060 mile bike ride from John O'Groats to Land's End since her terminal diagnosis and raised over £485,000 for charity.

Mrs Tomlinson plans to ride from St Peter's Square in Rome to her home in Leeds on May 3.

Contributions to her appeal can be made online at: www.justgiving.com/Janesappeal. Donations can also be sent to The Jane Tomlinson Appeal, Yorkshire Building Society, Commercial Street, Rothwell, Leeds LS26 0AW. Sort Code: 57 00 45. Account No: 5349471430.